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 Posted - September 07 2008 : 01:29:43 AM
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My first HO scale train set was a Tyco military train consisting of an 0-4-0 Booster steam engine, a box car, two flat cars with US Army trucks and a four wheel Bobber caboose. I still have the entire set. The engine runs great. But I have seen the 'steam engine' section of this site and am puzzled by the picture of the 0-4-0 Booster. It shows an engine with a curved saddle tank which wraps over the top of the boiler. My 0-4-0 Booster has separate square tanks on both sides and no tank on top of the boiler. I did not see any photos of this engine in the list. I had a small 0-4-0 Dockside by AHM which resembled the engine listed here as a Booster. I'm curious about the discrepancy. Any comments would be appreciated.
Kevin
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Posted - September 07 2008 : 02:45:49 AM
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Hi, Kevin, and welcome. I think your sidetank version of the Booster is actually more common than the saddletank version. It's the version I've seen the most. Occasionally I'll see the saddletank Boosters on eBay, but not too often. I'm sure others here will have better knowledge of when it was produced.
Even HOSeeker.net only shows the sidetank.
/tyco/forum/uploaded/NickelPlate759/tyco060lboosterpg2.jpg
Edit: According to Tyco Resource, it was produced from 71-77. So when was the sidetanker made?
http://tycotrain.tripod.com/steamengines/id7.html
The Tyco Depot
Edited by - NickelPlate759 on September 07 2008 02:51:07 AM
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Posted - September 07 2008 : 12:47:37 PM
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found this one ken
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Posted - September 07 2008 : 2:50:29 PM
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Thank you both for the reply. I failed to mention that I got that first train set for Christmas around 1965 or 66 (?). I only wish I had saved the original box!
This little set got me hooked on HO model railroading and I have since built several layouts, each a little larger than the last. I'm now working on another, not so big, not so complicated, and hopefully more enjoyable that the last few. That little Booster will be a prominent part of my motive fleet (with a DCC decoder this time).
This is a great site; loaded with good information. Thanks to those responsible and keep up the good work.
Kevin
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Posted - September 07 2008 : 3:28:42 PM
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heres the set you have in all its glory,by way of hoseeker ken
http://www.hoseeker.org/tycoinformation/tycocatalog1964pg01.jpg
/tyco/forum/uploaded/catfordken/2836510559_e7687d3a5c_b.jpg
many thanks hoseeker
Edited by - catfordken on September 07 2008 3:33:23 PM
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Posted - September 07 2008 : 4:45:42 PM
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Sweet topic, welcome to the forum Kevin.
Now, mine has "Lima Italy" in the frame...still Tyco?
Edited by - shaygetz on September 07 2008 10:13:27 PM
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Posted - September 07 2008 : 5:34:10 PM
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Kevin, I'm not sure of the exact date, but Tyco went to a rounded plastic boiler in the late 60's-early 70's, as I have one from the "Red Box" era. I've seen them in a 1975 catalog, also--don't know how late they went. They seem to have a bit more detail than the all-metals, and have an operating headlight. Chris
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Posted - September 07 2008 : 5:41:08 PM
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There were a few clones of this loco. (rectangular side tanks)
I have a couple made by Mantua/Tyco and a Model Power clone.
Ray
Edited by - Ray Marinaccio on September 07 2008 5:43:41 PM
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Posted - September 07 2008 : 9:19:24 PM
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The infamous Mantua / Tyco 0-4-0 Booster Every company has a catastrophic failure and the folks in South Jersey were no exception!
In 1953 the the original Booster was introduced both as a Mantua kit (No 213 $9.95) and a Tyco RTR (T-213 $15.95). It bombed big time Reason the frame and drive wheel inserts were made of that newfangled stuff Mantua called Nylon I dont know why, but the plastic mix used was extremely brittle look at it cross eyed and it would break They also had the same problem with rolling stock wheelsAt the same time the familiar trolley (Mantua KIT no 214 $8.95 Tyco RTR T-214 $10.95 was released using the frame and running gear from the said Booster which of course was a failure also
Here are some catalog pages from the era
The Booster was returned in 1959 (in Red Box) with diecast running gear from the Shifter and was made until the late 1960s when the curved top tank Booster was introduced.
Loopy
If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem.
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Posted - September 07 2008 : 9:39:42 PM
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I have one of the saddletanks, I didn't know they seem to be scarce. It's a neat little loco.
I think the 0-4-0 "Side Tank" booster is simply the Little Six with a cheaper drivetrain. Guess they thought calling it the "Little Four" would have been too confusing? 
Edited by - GoingInCirclez on September 07 2008 9:41:14 PM
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Posted - September 07 2008 : 11:12:20 PM
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Here is two pictures of the first Mantua 0-4-0T made 1940s to early 1950s. Brass and diecast construction.
Numquam Immoderatio Satis Est
(Too Much Is Never Enough )
Edited by - VintageHO on September 08 2008 02:48:29 AM
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Posted - September 08 2008 : 05:13:00 AM
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| hi shaygetz and others this loco made by lima,has been released in europe as gwr in uk and as a german loco as well,ken
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Posted - September 29 2008 : 3:05:20 PM
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I have a few tyco-mantua Boosters.
Frank
 
toptrain
" It's a Heck of a Day " !!!
Edited by - toptrain on September 29 2008 3:27:35 PM
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Posted - September 29 2008 : 3:26:29 PM
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Here's another one! The Riverossi 0-4-0t booster I made into a cab foward. It a rare one with full valve gear.
toptrain
" It's a Heck of a Day " !!!
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Posted - September 29 2008 : 3:51:29 PM
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quote:Here's another one! The Riverossi 0-4-0t booster I made into a cab foward. It a rare one with full valve gear.
Originally posted by toptrain-September 29 2008: 3:26:29 PM
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I like the name on that one 
~anna
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Posted - September 30 2008 : 08:09:22 AM
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My son and I both use that name for our local short line . Another line is the mining line the ROXY RR. My son goes by e-paw.
Frank
toptrain
" It's a Heck of a Day " !!!
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